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Freiman, Wellesley native, reflects on Boston tragedy

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A's pay tribute to Boston 2:07

4/16/13: A's sing ''Sweet Caroline'' as a tribute for those affected by the tragedy in Boston

By Jim Hawkins
/
Special to MLB.com |

ST. PETERSBURG -- The number of A's players in the clubhouse before Friday's game watching coverage of the manhunt following the Boston Marathon tragedy outnumbered those watching baseball, 3-to-1. And no one was more focused on the breaking news than A's rookie infielder Nate Freiman, who lives in Wellesley, Mass., a Boston suburb.

Freiman's family lives in Boston, near the midway mark on the Boston Marathon course, and has been directly affected by the tragedy. Freiman said he couldn't remember ever seeing a news story take over a clubhouse the way this one has.

"That's what everyone wants to see," said Freiman, who was claimed off waivers by the A's from the Astros on March 23. "I've talked to my parents and my brother -- he goes to school there -- and they're OK.

They're fine," he added. "My dad has lived in the area his whole life. He's never seen anything like this.

"This is really hard for everybody. It disrupts everyone's life. But not nearly as much as the lives of those 180 people in the bombing were disrupted.

"The silver lining is knowing that Boston is extremely well-equipped. It's a well-run city. They have the resources to work through this. It's nice to see the positives that come out of something like this -- the heroes and the first-responders. It's nice to see the way it brings out the best in people."

Jim Hawkins is a contributor to MLB.com This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.